6 Under-the-Radar Swedish Beauty Labels to Know Now

This week, a parade of editors, stylists, and models will pull out the sartorial stops in Stockholm, where Fashion Week is currently underway. But before turning a blind eye to anything but the clothes, take a moment to consider that the Scandinavian city is already well-established on the proverbial beauty map.

Following in the footsteps of recent industry success stories like Byredo, with its glossy black-capped scents, and minimalist haircare line Sachajuan, a school of lesser-known labels are also helping to establish Sweden as a purveyor of pure, high quality ingredients and crisp, cool packaging design. Just look to Verso, whose retinol-based Super Facial Serum is already beloved by in-the-know Americans, or Estelle & Thild, an organic skin-care line currently sold on Net-a-Porter. From a stimulating seaweed bath treatment to a salt scrub containing flowers plucked from a garden in northern Sweden, here is a look at six Swedish beauty lines to buy now.

L:A BruketBorn in the rugged seaside town of Varberg, where the wind whips and the waves lash, L:A Bruket’s line of all-natural spa and body products are formulated to counteract even the harshest of elements. Take the jumbo-sized lip balm made of beeswax, almond, and coconut oils, or the wild rose hand cream that’s as moisturizing as it is intoxicating. Also not to be missed is the dried seaweed bath treatment. Fished by hand off the western coast of Sweden, it stimulates blood circulation, relieves overworked muscles, and alleviates sunburnt skin.

VersoSwedes like Elin Kling flock to Verso, a Stockholm-based skin-care label known for its use of the potent Retinol 8 complex. While the healing and strengthening Super Facial Serum is a fan favorite, the new Micellar Water, which is filled with ingredients like turmeric and reparative niacinamide, will surely soon line the shelves of the fashion set the world around.

Björk & BerriesWhat began as a small project deep in the forests of northern Sweden has become one of the country’s most beloved beauty offerings. With a commitment to sustainability, Björk & Berries uses handpicked, natural ingredients for its skin care, body, bath, hair, hand, and perfume ranges. Local picks include the Botanical Firming Cream (also known as “botanical botox”) and the From the Garden Bath Salt, which, true to its name, contains detoxifying birch leaves and soothing lavender and chamomile flowers plucked straight from the label’s plot.

Estelle & ThildWhen Pernilla Rönnberg discovered the shockingly high number of chemicals in her face products, she sought to create a skin-care range free from pesticides and toxic residue, and thus, Estelle & Thild (named after her two young daughters) was born. The 11-year-old, Ecocert-approved label has since expanded its range to include makeup, such as a sheer foundation packed with hyaluronic acid and vitamin E, and a luxurious avocado oil-infused lipstick that nourishes with every swipe.

Maria AkerbergWith more than 400 products (and 1400 variations)—all made from organic vegetable oils—Maria Akerberg’s line is like the Holy Grail of skin care for Swedes. While a collection that extensive (there’s everything from strengthening eyebrow oil and deodorant salt to a softening scalp spray) makes it hard to pick favorites, there is something special for everyone.

Emma S.Before the days of retouching, good genes weren't the only criteria for a model—great skin was too. "I was sent home from shoots because of a pimple," remembers '90s Swedish super Emma Wiklund, who often posed alongside the likes of Naomi Campbell and Linda Evangelista. Which is why, in 2009, she decided to put her breakouts behind her once and for all and launch her own skin-care series, Emma S. Today, her 30-plus products range from a reparative overnight mask to a fragrance inspired by the streets of Paris.